Cheap eats in Iceland under $10
Everyone tells you Iceland is expensive to eat in. That is true for sit-down restaurants — but there are still meals under $10 if you know where to look. Here are the essentials.
Icelandic hot dog with mustard and crispy onions
The hot dog reigns
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur ($6) is the Reykjavik hot dog institution — a lamb, pork and beef blend served with fried onions, raw onions, ketchup, remoulade and sweet mustard. Order eina med ollu (one with everything). Locations at Tryggvagata by the harbour and Tryggvagata by BSI.
Any Icelandic gas station N1 or Olis sells the same style hot dog for $4-5 with a drink combo at $7. Weirdly good.
Supermarket meals
Bonus (the pink pig logo) and Kronan are the cheap supermarkets. A picnic of skyr ($1.50), a can of pickled herring ($3), rye bread ($4), and an apple works out at $10. Their ready-meal sandwiches are $4-6.
10-11 convenience stores are 24-hour but 30-40% more expensive. Only use for late-night emergencies. Alcohol is not sold in supermarkets — only Vinbudin state stores until 6pm on weekdays, 4pm Saturdays, closed Sundays.
Bakeries and soup
Braud & Co on Frakkastigur bakes the best cinnamon rolls in Reykjavik at $5, and their sourdough sandwiches run $8-9. Sandholt on Laugavegur is more expensive but has excellent pastries.
For a hot meal under $10, the soup-and-bread lunch at Svarta Kaffid on Laugavegur is $12 in a hollowed-out bread bowl — technically over budget but it is a full meal. Grai Kotturinn does breakfast until 3pm with coffee and toast for $9.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask before they set off on this one.
A gas station or Baejarins hot dog at $4-6 is the classic cheap meal. Supermarket picnics work out cheaper per calorie.
Yes — Bonus and Kronan are the two discount chains. Avoid 10-11 convenience stores which mark up 30-40%.
Yes, up to 3kg of certain foods per person. No raw meat or unpasteurised dairy. Ready meals and snacks are fine and worth packing.
There is no McDonald's — it left in 2009. Subway and KFC exist. A Subway 6-inch is about $10, so hot dogs are still the cheap option.
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